Sangamon Sun

The Libertarian Party of Illinois recently announced its support for a new measure introduced by Rep. Allen Skillicorn (R-East Dundee) that if passed, would offer greater parity to election candidates representing independent and minor parties.

Known as the Campaign Fairness Act, House Bill 762 was proposed Jan. 27 in the state House of Representatives by the former East Dundee trustee, who ran a campaign based on protecting jobs, quashing high property taxes and abiding by term limits, as well as opposing the legendary “Madigan machine” in Springfield.

For years, minor political parties have struggled for spots on election ballots nationwide. Skillicorn’s proposal would grant equal status to independent and minor party candidates in Illinois, enabling them to compete more easily with Republicans and Democrats.

HB 762 would establish more consistent requirements in several ways. First, it would balance out the number of signatures required to create a party; second, it would make the requirements for establishing a political party consistent with those of other midwestern states.

Illinois currently requires a minimum of 5 percent of the popular vote cast for a party to legitimize it, whereas the national average is closer to 2 percent. HB 762 proposes that Illinois lower its minimum to 2 percent.

Smaller entities such as the Libertarian and Green Parties are hit harder financially by current laws than their traditional counterparts because of existing laws that mandate strict petitioning rules, according to the Libertarian Party.

With the passage of the Campaign Fairness Act, independents and minority party candidates could fare better throughout the entire electoral process, from petitioning to ballot presence.